Animation

This course combines creativity and motion, helping you develop the skills to turn your ideas into animated visual content.

The course explores animation through historical, contemporary and global perspectives, combining traditional and digital techniques. You'll have the opportunity to develop inclusive visual storytelling and build a versatile portfolio that reflects industry-relevant skills.

• Develop skills in animating characters, environments and objects in 2D and 3D formats.

• Create a portfolio reflecting a broad range of styles, influences and storytelling traditions worldwide.

• Prepare for careers as 3D and 2D animators, riggers, modellers, character designers, storyboard artists, animation directors, writers and comic artists.

Why you should study this course

• Engage in industry placements and live project briefs with UK and international creative companies, building professional experience aligned with current animation sector demands.

• Tailor your animation practice through a curriculum that supports specialisms such as 2D, 3D, character animation, environment design and storytelling for diverse career paths.

• Explore a wide range of animation technologies and traditional techniques, including digital rigging, modelling, stop-motion and hand-drawn animation.

• Learn directly from industry practitioners who have worked on major arts-funded projects and commercial productions, integrating real-world expertise into your projects (staff subject to change).

• Learn to use animation studios and software like Maya, Blender, Toon Boom and Adobe Creative Suite, and become proficient as you prepare for a career in film, television, gaming and immersive digital media.

Careers and opportunities
Graduates could be expected to work as animators, graphic novel artists, environment artists and storyboard artists as well as pursuing careers in teaching and study at postgraduate level. In the past, graduates have returned to share their experiences and advice as visiting lecturers and have continued to support the next generation of Animation students.

After studying, students go on to work in the following areas: advertising, comic books, tv and film production, children’s picture books, artists, art direction, games art and animation, teaching and study at postgraduate level.

Please visit our website for the most up-to-date information.

Course Modules

This course has a common first year

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to the broader subject area and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Year One Modules
Hack Lab and Creative Play
Interactive Narratives and Immersive Experiences
Concept Development, Prototyping and Design
Skills Lab

Year Two Modules:
Applying Animation Principles
External Practice
The Creature Workshop
Environment Design and Storytelling

Sandwich Year:
There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

Final Year Modules:
Animation Research and Development
Animate: Industry Practice and Professional Development
Animate: Collaboration and Exploration
Animate: Animation Application

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.